LeagueBox

LEAGUEBOX TOURNAMENT RULES

Rounds

There will be one round per month, unless local rules state otherwise.

Availability

Players must be able to play matches in the evenings and / or weekends.

Qualifying Players

Players must be aged 16 years or above on the date of the start of the round in which the player joins the tournament unless otherwise agreed with the Tournament Referee.

All players must be fully subscribed members of your tennis club.

Day time members will be exceptionally able to play their matches after their permissible hours by paying the Guest Fee before commencing play.

Box Design

Boxes will be designed to accommodate 4 to 6 players

Organizing Matches

It is the responsibility of both players to make every effort to organize matches.

General Tennis Rules

Matches will be played according to the ITF Tennis Rules which can be viewed at www.itftennis.com

Matches not Umpired

The following principles will apply when playing a match without a Chair Umpire:

• Each player is responsible for all line calls on their own side of the net
• All “out” and “fault” calls should be made promptly after the ball has bounced and loudly enough for the opponent to hear
• If in doubt, the player must give the benefit of the doubt to the opponent
• If a player incorrectly calls a ball “out” and then realizes that the ball was good, the point should be replayed unless it was a point winning shot or unless that player made an incorrect “out” call earlier in the match. In these circumstances the player who called “out” loses the point
• The server should call the score before each first serve, loudly enough for the opponent to hear

Warm-up

To ensure that matches are completed within 1 hour warm-ups should be restricted to 5 minutes.

Match Format

Matches will be played as two short sets with a deciding championship tie-break if required.

Each set will be played as the first to 4 games with a normal 7 point tie-break at games 3:3.

The championship tiebreaker will be played as the first to 10 points with 2 clear.

OPTIONAL: to be decided amongst players before the start of a match

So that games do not become protracted, a sudden death deuce can be played to decide a game should the game score be 40:40.

The Receiver then would determine which side to receive the serve on a Sudden Death Deuce.

Points

Points earned are calculated to provide incentive to win as many games as possible and are calculated as follows:

• Winner: 20 points
• Looser: 10 points per set won + number of games per lost set
• The championship tie-break counts as one set (no points awarded for the looser)

Examples:

• 4-2 4-3 : winner 20 pts, looser 5 pts
• 4-1 2-4 10-6 : winner 20 pts, looser 11 pts
• 4-3 3-4 12-10 : winner 20 pts, looser 13 pts
• 4-2 2-4 10-1 : winner 20 pts, looser 12 pts

Posting Results

Either player can post the match result.

Each Box player will log in to their account and enter the score on line, otherwise they can be marked on the club board where a sheet is provided for your convenience. If a result has been entered incorrectly contact the Tournament Referee.

Please note that all results must be posted by the end date of the round, except where an extension has been granted by the Referee.

Box League Ranking

A player's league position is determined by the total number of points won in a Round. In the event that two or more players have the same number of points the league position will be determined by:

1. Most matches played
2. Ratio of Sets Won to Sets Played %
3. Ratio of Games Won to Games Played %

Promotion / Relegation

In normal circumstances

• the top two players will be promoted (first player: 2 boxes, second: 1 box).
• the last two players will be relegated (last player: 2 boxes, second last: 1 box).

New Entrants

Every effort will be made to accommodate new league players into a box that is appropriate to the player’s ability.

Disqualification

Players who do not play any matches in a round without good reason or advance notice may be withdrawn from the tournament, at the sole discretion of the Tournament Referee.

No show

If a player is more than

• 5 minutes late on court the opponent has the right to claim 1 game.
• 10 minutes late on court the opponent has the right to claim 2 games.
• 15 minutes late on court the opponent has the right to claim a set.

Retire from Match

If a player retires from a match, for example because of injury, all completed games will stand. Any unplayed games will be conceded.

For example:

Player A is leading 2/1 and 30:15 in set 1 when player A has to retire.

The match score should be entered as 2/4 0/4 to player B.

Withdrawing before the start of a round

Players should inform the Tournament Referee if they wish to withdraw from the box league.

If a player withdraws before the start of a round the Tournament Referee will make every effort to maintain the player's position should the player rejoin the box league at the start of the next round.

Walk-overs

Walk-overs have been abolished and are not allowed for the following reasons:

• complications in managing walk-overs
• impossibility for the Referee to verify walk-over claims
• unfair allocation of unplayed point

Deadline Extensions

Players should make every effort to play their matches within the box league period.

Players can request an extension to the deadline providing the match has been arranged and the court booked. Such requests will be considered at the discretion of the Tournament Referee whose decision is final.

Players with no matches played in a round will be removed and will have to re-apply to remain in the competition.

Disputes

The Tournament Referee's decision is final. All dispute inquiries to be emailed to your admin at guillaume.cazals@club.be.